Hosting Holiday Guests? Get Ready With These Tips

Various household items such as pillows and quilts standing in the white cupboard in the laundry room.

Various household items such as pillows and quilts standing in the white cupboard in the laundry room.

It’s exciting to host a holiday dinner. At the same time, it’s terrifying. After all, you want everything to go according to plan. Whether you have a handful of friends coming over or a large number of family members, these tips will help.

Check the Oven

Especially if you plan to cook but haven’t used the oven for a while, don’t wait until the last minute to check if it works. If your stove and oven are in working order, make sure they’re clean. After all, the smell of burnt food stuck on the bottom of the oven can ruin a holiday dish.

Inventory Glasses, Utensils, and Dinnerware

Make sure you have the appropriate servings for the number of guests. Depending on the formality of the dinner, you may or may not need matching sets. For instance, if you’re hosting a casual event, you can mix and match dinnerware. However, if it’s formal, you want everything to look the same.

Make Your Guests Feel at Home

At some point, people will need to retreat to the restroom. For that reason, be sure it’s stocked with plenty of toilet paper. In addition, put out clean hand towels and have feminine products on hand. Also, don’t forget to pick up some air freshener. If any guests plan to stay the night, put clean sheets and comforters on the bed. Along with that, provide them with designated towels and washcloths.

Eliminate Clutter

That doesn’t mean you need to redecorate your entire house, but rather, move some of the clutter out of the way. In particular, clear pathways and take unnecessary items off the kitchen counters.

Set Up Seating

You’ll need a table and chairs to accommodate the number of people coming to your home. If you don’t have a table long enough or the right number of chairs, you can always rent them. On the other hand, if you’re entertaining family members and you have little space, the kids can eat on a blanket on the floor. They’ll love it.

Stop the Dirt

Just because you want people to feel welcome in your home doesn’t mean you have to accept all the dirt that they track in. Before people arrive, put a doormat outside. Along with that, place a large mat or towel inside the door. That way, they can kick the dirt off their shoes before entering. In addition, set a large mat inside the door. That’ll give them a place to put their shoes, so they don’t track leftover dirt through your house.

Clean Out the Refrigerator

There are two reasons to do this when hosting a holiday dinner. First, you’ll have more room for ingredients you use to cook with and leftovers after the meal. Second, you don’t want someone opening your refrigerator door only to face a disaster.

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Finish Grocery Shopping Early

Instead of buying groceries a day or two before everyone arrives, finish early. For one thing, that’ll eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress. For another, you won’t feel rushed. As a result, there’s less chance you’ll forget some of the things you need.

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